Elias Diaz
How the team acquired him: signed as an amateur free agent on November 7, 2008.
Rise through the minor league system: Began professional career with the Pirates affiliate in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2009 as an 18 year old. Played two games at the MLB level in 2015 but spent most of the season in Indianapolis. Suffered an arm injury in spring training in 2016, but made season debut with the Pirates on July 24th. The injury was initially thought to be career-threatening.
Where is Diaz now?
Diaz has been optioned back to Indianapolis after Eric Fryer was reinstated from the paternity list. He made his first major league start during his stay.
Why is Diaz untouchable?
Diaz represents a safety net of sorts for the Pirates. When Francisco Cervelli went down with a hamate injury and Chris Stewart was injured a few days later, the team had to turn to a tandem of Eric Kratz and Fryer to play the most demanding position on the diamond.
Nothing against those two, but neither of them should be starting for a team with postseason aspirations. Diaz is a great option to have in the event the oft-injured Cervelli gets injured again. Fans were treated to a display of Diaz’s arm on July 24th when he picked Carlos Ruiz off of second base. He is a strong defensive catcher and if the bat continues to improve he could make a big impact the major league level.
Diaz was considering a strong contender to take over for Cervelli when he hit free agency at the end of the 2016 season, but Cervelli changed the plan when he signed an extension to stay with the Pirates for the next few years. Diaz should still be kept and not dealt because as fans have seen in Pittsburgh, catchers get hurt, and good replacement catchers do not exactly grow on trees.
Our next Untouchable has gone through a rapid rise in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system
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